Birth Injury Lawsuit Results In $8.5 Million Award

Cleveland, OH (Law Firm Newswire) August 8, 2013 – MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland was held accountable for medical negligence in a recent birth injury lawsuit.

“This reported case, one that I was not involved in, began three years ago,” explained Christopher Mellino, a Cleveland birth injury lawyer. “The baby suffered a brain injury while in the care of the hospital; an incident deemed as medical malpractice. The facility was ordered to pay $8.5 million.”

The Myers family was expecting three years ago. The baby was delivered, but unbeknownst to the mother, she may have contracted a placental infection. She did not get enough oxygen to her brain, as the attending doctor did not resuscitate her properly. The child, now three years old, must be fed via a tube and will never be able to care for herself, or live any kind of a normal life.

“At trial one of the most riveting pieces of evidence was the baby’s APGAR score, typically taken within five minutes after a child is born to check on how they are doing medically. The score is named after Dr. Virginia Apgar, an anaesthesiologist who created the scoring system to determine the effects of anaesthesia on babies,” added Mellino. Each letter in the doctor’s name stands for five things medical staff look for to calculate on overall score —- appearance, pulse, grimace, activity and respiration.

The baby in this case was not breathing at birth, but did have a heartbeat. The attending nurse did not notify neonatal resuscitation experts in enough time to prevent permanent brain damage. Forensic evidence at trial further indicated the APGAR score had been changed to show the hospital was not responsible her injury.
“It is important to note that a placental infection may cause a low APGAR score, but is it not the only reason for a low score. At present, there are several questionable drugs being investigated for causing similar issues in newborns. For instance, the antidepressant Zoloft may cause heart, neural tube, and craniofacial defects and pulmonary hypertension,” outlined Mellino.

The birth of a child is intended to be a joyous event. When something goes awry with the delivery process, the ensuing results may be life altering for the child and mother. “If you feel your child has been the victim of medical negligence, my door is open to you. We have a lot to discuss and I can assist you in finding justice,” Mellino indicated.

To learn more or to contact a Cleveland medical malpractice attorney, or visit http://www.mellinorobenalt.com.

Mellino Robenalt LLC
200 Public Sq., Suite 2900
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Call: (216) 241-1901

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